X Factor Judges: Who Is Paid The Highest Salary?

Each TV singing competition judge might have basically the same job — but all judge salaries are not created equal. So which of The X Factor’s well-known judges earns the most money for the gig?

Entertainmentwise has published a list of the eight highest-paid judges on reality TV, and the person in the number one slot probably won’t come as a huge surprise: It’s everyone’s favorite grouch, Simon Cowell!

Simon is probably the reason all the other judges even have jobs. He helped popularize the genre of singing competitions when he first appeared on American Idol, before moving on to X Factor.

So just how much money does Simon make on the show? His annual salary is reportedly a whopping $90 million, according to Pay Wizard — although that also includes his earnings as a producer on the show, and his involvement in The X Factor UK. Regardless, Simon isn’t hurting.

Meanwhile, another former X Factor judge also made the list, as Britney Spears comes in at number four. Brit, who has since returned to her life as an internationally beloved pop star and will not be returning to judge the 2013 season, collected a not-exactly-paltry $15 million for her season on the show.

Demi Lovato, who likely will be returning for The X Factor 2013, only makes about $1 million. That’s nowhere near enough to earn her a spot on the list.

Other high-paid judges include Mariah Carey at number two — who earns a reported $18 million a year as an American Idol judge — and Britney’s fellow Mickey Mouse Club alum Christina Aguilera, who collected $10 million for The Voice last season.

Who knew you could make so much money by telling people that they suck?